Sam Bentley

This floating bin sucks in trash and microplastics from the ocean! It’s called the Seabin, invented by Australian surfers, and it uses an electrical pump to suck in water and filter out plastics while allowing clean water to pass through. They install the bins in plastic pollution hotspots, like marinas, and harbours, and they can hold up to 20kg of rubbish at a time and are emptied and serviced daily. Since July 2020, they have filtered 23.6 billion litres of water for microplastics. The bins also collect important data about how much plastic is being collected and how factors like wind and rainfall affect litter movement in the oceans. The Seabin Project’s ultimate goal is to create a world where seabins aren't needed in the first place, and to help create a pollution-free ocean for future generations. Would you like these installed near you? #goodnews #pollution #ocean #marine #conservation #plastic

This paper bag is helping to stop trees from being cut down! Releaf Paper are a Ukrainian company using fallen leaves from urban areas, not from forests, to create bags that don’t harm a single tree. Leaves are collected from parks and residential areas before being cleaned, and dried for storage. They are then be processed into paper bags, using way less resources than conventional paper production. The bags are strong, breathable, and even water resistant making them a great environmental alternative to both plastic and paper! They even decompose quicker than normal paper only taking about thirty days while normal paper takes up to 270 days! Leaves in urban areas are a waste product and are generally burned, releasing CO2. So Releaf provides a way of putting those leaves to good use while also decreasing deforestation from paper manufacturing! What do you think of this idea? Let me know! #goodnews #Sustainability #conservation #saveourplanet #upcycle #deforestation

In Switzerland, they're turning their train tracks into solar farms! Using the unused space between train rails, solar startup Sunways are installing solar panels, without disrupting train traffic. After getting the green light from the Federal Office of Transport, 48 panels are being laid across 100 meters of track in Neuchâtel, with the potential to generate 16,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity a year. The panels can help power everything from local homes to the trains themselves, and thanks to removable designs and built-in cleaning systems, they won’t interfere with rail maintenance. If the pilot is a success, it could scale up and potentially cover railways across Switzerland, supplying up to 2% of the country's electricity needs. It’s a great example of using overlooked spaces to meet growing energy demands, all while preserving natural landscapes. Would you like to see this in your country? #goodnews #solar #switzerland #innovation #cleanenergy #trains

This is how playing video games actually helped rebuild real life coral reefs! Back in 2018, Minecraft added coral reefs to the game and set players a challenge.. If players placed 10,000 coral blocks, they’d donate to actually build the best reef designs from players in real life. Players smashed that goal in just 3 days! So Minecraft worked with The Nature Conservancy to turn these player designed reefs into reality off the coast of Cozumel, Mexico. They used Biorock, which are steel frames placed underwater with a low electric current, that helps minerals build up into limestone, creating the perfect surface for coral to grow faster. Do you think more video games should do this? #goodnews #conservation #Minecraft #Sustainability #reef #savethereef

This suit helps people with mobility difficulties move around more easily! It’s called the EXOPULSE Mollii Suit, designed by experts in Sweden, and it acts like a translator between your brain and your muscles. With certain conditions, the brain struggles to send the right signals to the muscles, making parts of the body feel stiff, shaky, or hard to control. So the Mollii Suit uses its 58 built-in electrodes to send gentle electrical pulses to specific muscles, helping activate the ones that need support, and relax the ones that are too tense. For example, if someone’s bicep is stuck in a tight, bent position, the suit gently activates the tricep, the muscle on the opposite side, which tells the bicep to relax. This helps the arm straighten out and move more freely. It was developed for individuals with conditions such as cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and spinal cord injuries. People can wear it for just one hour, and the effects can last up to two days, helping with people’s quality of life and independence. It’s also a non-invasive alternative to medications and surgical interventions, that can be used at home Would you like to see tech like this become more accessible? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! #goodnews #innovation #tech #mobility #accessibility #Sustainability

This bracelet helps protect you from Sharks when out at sea! They're called Sharkbanz, and they create a 1-2 metre magnetic field around you that sends sharks away. Here’s how they work. Sharks have powerful sensors that use magnetic fields to help them navigate and hunt, but the Sharkbanz use powerful magnets to overload those sensors with a strong magnetic field, that’s similar to shining a bright light into your eyes. (It doesn’t hurt but it’s uncomfortable so they leave.) They tested it on a dummy with bait attached to each limb, with about 15 bull sharks. Without the band, the dummy was attacked roughly every 42 seconds, but with the band, the dummy wasn’t attacked once. They’re backed by almost two decades worth of peer-reviewed scientific research and studies on the use of patented magnetic technology as an active and effective shark deterrent So something as simple as this wristband can keep both humans and sharks safe. Would you wear one of these? Let me know below! #goodnews #sharks #ocean #innovation #conservation #surfing

Some of the best good news from June you might have missed! #fyp #foryou #goodnews #sustainableliving #conservation #newstiktok

This guy in Brazil turned a dead rainforest back into a thriving farm forest! Ernst Götsch, a Swiss farmer, wanted to swap farming with pesticides and fertilisers for a more natural solution instead. So in the 1980s, he moved to Brazil and found 480 hectares of barren, unproductive land. Using a method called Syntropic Farming, he planted in layers, just like a wild forest, so the plants could support and nourish each other. He covered the dry soil with organic matter and planted fast-growing trees that help keep moisture in the ground, making the soil healthier. As the plants grew, they released moisture into the air, triggering rainfall, this process is called “flying rivers,” and it’s how rainforests create their own rain! His approach eliminated the need for pesticides and fertilizers by letting plants, microbes, and natural cycles do the work instead! Why is this so important? Conventional agriculture in the region has stripped landscapes of biodiversity, depleted soil nutrients, and made land harder to farm. So Götsch’s work shows that regenerative farming can provide both food for local people whilst improving ecosystems too! Do you think more farms should work like this? #goodnews #conservation #brazil #regenerative #forest #nature

Some of the best good news from May you might have missed! #fyp #foryou #goodnews #sustainableliving #conservation #newstiktok

This filter pulls microplastics out of water, before they reach the ocean or our bodies! It’s called PolyGone, and it’s being trialled in New Jersey right now. It was started by Princeton grads Nathaniel and Yidian, who were tired of watching governments ignore the microplastics problem. So they built a smart filter that copies how plant roots work Plant’s fine, hair-like fibres grab onto microplastics in the water, kind of like Velcro. But instead of plants, they built silicone versions designed to attract and trap even the tiniest bits of plastic more effectively. The filters are self-cleaning, energy-efficient, and can be installed in under a day. They catch up to 98% of microplastics at a 90% lower cost than other systems. Microplastics have been found in brain tissue and even the air we breathe, and they’re known to disrupt hormones and may even cause cancer. So by stopping them before they reach rivers and oceans, PolyGone isn’t just cleaning up nature but protecting us too. Who thinks we need these in more places? #goodnews #microplastics #plastic #plasticpollution #Sustainability #cleanwater

This swimming pool doesn't use chemicals to stay clean, it uses nature instead! They’re called natural pools, and instead of chlorine, they use plants and good bacteria to keep the water clean. Next to the swimming area, there's a zone that acts like a mini-wetland, where water filters through gravel, plants and beneficial microbes that remove nutrients and pathogens, stopping algae and harmful bacteria from growing. A small pump also helps keep the water moving and clears out any leaves or debris. This is great for both humans and wildlife! Swimming in chemical-free, naturally filtered water protects the beneficial bacteria on our skin, and avoids the harsh effects of chlorine. Whilst the wetland habitat supports local biodiversity, attracting insects, birds, frogs, and other land and water species. Would you like to see more natural pools in your area? #goodnews #swimming #nature #sustainableliving #cleanwater #naturalpool

This underwear from India can replace up to 100 tampons, and cut down on tons of period waste too! It’s been created by Natasha Jamal, the founder of Mahina, who wanted to make a safer alternative to toxic plastic period products to protect women’s health. Each pair has three absorbent layers with sealed seams to stop leaks, and they can be worn for up to 12 hours. They’re washable, reusable, and made from non-toxic natural materials using a low-impact dye process. Around 12.3 billion disposable pads and tampons are thrown away every year in India alone. And one pad contains as much plastic as four plastic bags. So this one small switch could make a big impact. Tap like if you want to see more ideas like this, and share to spread their amazing work! #goodnews #india #sustainableliving #plasticpollution #womenshealth #waste

This cardboard donut is helping to grow trees in dry areas! It's called the Cocoon, and it's been developed by Dutch company Land Life. So far, they've planted more than 10 million trees with the Cocoon and other innovative planting methods in severely degraded land all over the world So how does it work? First, you dig a shallow pit and place a seedling inside it and pack it with soil to secure it in place. The Cocoon is then placed around the seedling, and it's filled to the trim with water. A lid is then added to prevent the water inside from evaporating. Soil is then packed around the cocoon, and over time, the water seeps into the soil, helping the seedling's roots grow healthy. A shelter is then added to protect the growing seedling from too much sun exposure, the wind and small animals. The cocoon is made from recycled cardboard, and is 100% biodegradable. Land Life says The Cocoon helps trees establish in arid and degraded environments with only 25 liters of water, using x1000 less water than traditional methods. Plus it provides survival rates up to 95% in hot and dry areas. There are 2 billion hectares of degraded land worldwide, that’s a bigger area than South America. So reforestation projects like this are vital to reverse this critical situation! #goodnews #saveourplanet #trees #regeneration #treeplanting #conservation

This is how wild horses are helping fight wildfires in California! Back in 2014, William Simpson moved to a remote hillside in California and ended up befriending a herd of wild horses. But in 2018, wildfires hit the area. William and his wife stayed behind to protect their ranch, but what they noticed surprised them. The horses didn’t run away but stayed calm and kept grazing through the dry brush and grasses, the same materials that usually help wildfires spread. They ended up helping to save Willam’s home which inspired him to start the Wild Horse Fire Brigade. Now, he’s working to relocate thousands of wild horses, currently kept in government holding pens and instead move them to fire-prone areas, where they can help manage the land naturally. Each horse eats up to 30 pounds of brush and dry grasses a day, thinning out vegetation and helping reduce wildfire risk, all without machines, chemicals, or noise. Most wildfires in the U.S. are started by human activities, and overgrown forests and thick vegetation can fuel fire to grow out of control. So horses could play a huge role in protecting our environment and keeping people safe! Who thinks this is a great idea? ‌ #goodnews #wildfire #california #horses #wildhorses #conservation

Would you prefer to travel through cities like this? Mexico City found a simple solution, to cut hour long journeys across the city, down to just 17 minutes, and it costs less than a dollar too! It’s called the Mexicable, Mexico City’s cable car system, and it was built to help avoid growing congestion whilst making it easier to travel to and from the more mountainous areas. But it’s not just public transport. Local artists have painted over 50 murals along the route, making it feel more like you’re floating through an open-air art gallery than commuting. Each cabin fits 10 people, and the system can carry up to 29,000 passengers a day. It only costs 6-9 pesos, around 31-43 cents, making it one of the most accessible ways to travel round the city. Do you think more cities should have this? #goodnews #mexico #Sustainability #mexicocity #transport

This empty department store in the UK called Debenhams, has just been transformed into an indoor skate park called Shredenhams. It’s part of a campaign in Bristol to show how derelict spaces can be creatively used in city centres to bring high streets back to life and support local communities. Skateboards, Scooters, BMX, Inlines and Quads are all welcome. The team behind it also run two other parks, called Campus Pool and Campus Park, which focus heavily on families and specially run sessions for toddlers. They also host women-only sessions, over-40s skate nights, and Talk & Skate, a powerful collaboration with men’s mental health charity Talk Club, where participants can check in, share how they’re feeling, and then skate it out in a supportive space. As high streets across the UK face rising vacancies, Shredenhams is a powerful reminder that with a bit of creativity and community backing, empty buildings can be reimagined into places of connection, movement, and joy. Would you like to see more empty spaces reused like this? #goodnews #skateboard #reuse #bristol #sustainableliving #skate

#ad Here are 3 of the best innovations from young inventors that may help save the world! First, Pilar Granado, Pablo Sosa Domínguez and Luis Chimeno from Spain created a smart sticker that changes colour to tell you if your food is still fresh, or has gone off. Instead of guessing based on a date label, the stickers change colour when bacteria starts growing. They’re biodegradable, and can be used on meat, fish, and fruit. At number two, an innovator from Austria has found a way to replace plastic packaging for electronics, with paper! Franziska Kerber invented a shell made from pressed paper pulp, and when it's time to recycle the device, the housing can simply be dissolved in water. This makes it easier to collect precious metals like gold and copper from inside. And at 3, Alisha Fredriksson and Roujia Wen built a system that captures carbon from ship engines and turns it into limestone pellets. These pellets can then be reused and even used in construction! They’ve already tested it in harsh ocean conditions out at sea and it worked! These young inventors are part of the Young Inventors Prize 2025, created by the European Patent Office to celebrate young people building a safe and more sustainable world. You can vote for your favourite idea right now in the People’s Choice Prize, just tap the link in my bio to learn more and cast your vote! #YoungInventors #goodnews #innovations #Sustainability #sustainableliving #solutions

This simple solution helps prevent thousands of bird deaths, and you've probably already seen it without knowing. It’s Polka Dots! They’ve been developed by Feather Friendly, to help fight the global crisis of bird collisions. As in the US alone, as many as 1 billion birds die each year from flying into buildings, and many are precious native species. Birds often mistake windows for open space because they can’t see glass, especially when it reflects sky or trees. So by simply adding polka dot stickers to windows, birds can spot the glass and avoid it. They can be used anywhere, from private homes to massive office buildings, and they even have a DIY kit if you want to install them at home. Retrofitting windows with these dots is much cheaper than replacing glass entirely — and it actually works. For example, at McCormick Place in Chicago, they installed these markers and bird deaths dropped by up to 95%! Cities like Toronto, New York, and San Francisco are now adding bird-friendly design rules to their building codes, and ideas like this are a big part of that. Would you like to see this in more places? #goodnews #birds #wildlife #conservation #innovation #sustainableliving

A man in Maine just became the first person in North America to be buried in a mushroom coffin! It’s been developed by Dutch company, Loop Biotech, who are finding natural ways to return human nutrients to the soil. The Loop Living Cocoon is made using mycelium, the root system of fungi, and upcycled hemp fibres, and is grown in just 7 days. Once buried, it naturally breaks down within 45 days, helping to regenerate soil health and turning the body into a source of life for the forest around it. That was exactly the idea behind Mark Ancker’s burial. A lifelong gardener and artist, he had always wanted to be laid to rest close to nature. So after his passing, his daughter honored that wish by burying him under the trees on their family property. Today, the site is being transformed into a memorial garden, a space where grief is gently turned into new growth. These options are part of a growing movement to replace traditional burials, which use toxic embalming chemicals, hardwood, and concrete that can pollute the soil for decades. Would you prefer a mushroom coffin? Let me know your thoughts in the comments. #goodnews #Sustainability #sustainableliving #regeneration #mushroom #conservation

This 7-mile underwater sculpture park and snorkel trail is being built near Miami Beach, aiming to help save Florida’s endangered coral reefs! It’s called The Reefline, a public art and conservation project that will roll out in phases over the coming years. Partially funded by a $5 million bond approved by Miami voters in 2022, the project is now in its first phase. The first installation is called Concrete Coral, a piece by artist Leandro Erlich, that features a life-sized traffic jam of 22 concrete cars placed on the ocean floor for marine life to colonize. Symbolically reversing the damage caused by real-world traffic. The sculptures are seeded with Coral Loks, which are devices that anchor baby corals to the reef to support their growth. Snorkelers will be able to explore the site just 600 feet from shore, creating what organizers are calling an “underwater art crawl.” Do you want to see more ideas bringing our reefs back? #goodnews #coral #ocean #miami #savethereef #conservation